[Advances in the research and application of prefabricated flap]

Prefabricated flap is so named as the skin flaps is prepared by prefabricating a circulation-rich skin flap by implanting a named blood vessel or a portion of fascia which is incorporated with rich blood supply. After the flap has been proven as a flap supplied by ample blood supply, it is transplanted to a wound as a local or free transplantation. The core of prefabricated flap is vascularization. Beside the different methods of prefabrication, vascularization can be facilitated by use of growth factors and cytokines, skin and soft tissue expansion technique, and biomaterial. Prefabricated flap is currently widely used in clinic. With the advances in the research of prefabrication technology and advances in its clinical application, prefabricated flap transplantation is becoming a promising strategy in wound healing.